Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Okay - so no giveaway today! I will be doing two more next week and then I probably will take a break until about February. But I am possibly giving something away next week that will blow your socks off. So you might want to check back! (OH MY GOODNESS it's big!)I had kind of a tough Mom day yesterday. I think God was trying to show me something. We talked in our Bible Study about how we keep life from being all about us - how to keep our eyes on Jesus and I shared how going to El Salvador kept me from having pity parties because I kept thinking about the children and mothers I met there.and then I came home and had a pity party. Pitiful.Harper hasn't been taking naps and yesterday afternoon she mostly cried and fussed for 5 straight hours. I was starting to wonder if almost 11 month olds can have colic? ha! I didn't get anything done and I was just a mess by the time Scott got home. I was pretty convicted last night about how I didn't stop during that time and remember how blessed I truly am.But today has been so much better. Harper took a long morning nap and I got two Christmas trees up (yes - we have four) and even cooked lunch for Scott. I have felt SO behind for weeks and just one good day makes me feel so much better. It's cold and icky outside so we are home in our PJ's and it feels good to cross a few things off my list. I thought I would give you a few sneak peeks at my decorations.I'm hitting up Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby tonight and then trying to finish my other trees and the mantle and then I'll be done!!! This weekend we have a Christmas party and two big Christmas services at church I'm helping with and then I can finally relax and enjoy the season.I'm so thankful because both sides of our families have decided to not exchange gifts this year. WE love giving and there is nothing wrong with giving gifts at Christmas but I think it has reached a point where we are just buying to buy and none of us need anything. So instead Scott's family is sponsoring a Compassion child and we are going to sponsor a child survival program with Compassion. And then my family decided we would all take the money we would normally spend on gifts for each other and pool it together and give it to the Arkansas Baptist Children's home. I am so happy knowing that instead of giving my dad one more razorback tie or my mom one more bath and body gift basket .......we are giving a child a warm, safe home to live in. To me - that is what makes this time of year special. (not that giving should only be in December). And it gives me back my peace and joy.Instead of stressing about buying the right gift - I'm going to sit back and be thankful for the reason for the season. Every night when I rock Harper - I'm singing "Silent Night" and "Away in the Manger" and even "Mary did you know" and I think about Mary and how much she must have loved her son. We are going to drive around and look at Christmas lights in our PJ's and watch Christmas movies and just try to be still and thankful.

These two people are the ONLY gift I will ever need.

We are going to buy a few things for Harper. I want to keep it to a minimum but I do want her to have the excitement of opening gifts on Christmas morning. We haven't decided what to get her yet. Any suggestions????And yes - she has learned to open drawers and doors now. It's time to baby proof. I just can't believe she will be ONE in 6 more weeks. This year has gone by way too fast. I have to start planning her birthday party. I just can't believe it's already here!

Okay - there is NO WAY Harper should be a whole year old yet! I thought I was saying that with my child, but WOW? REALLY? Harper's ALREADY a year old??? That's just crazy talk! Sorry about not having any suggestions on what to get the little sweetie as my little sweetie is a little boy and I'm quite sure she's not motoring her toys around like cars! Thank you Lord for sweet Harper and her sweet mommy!!

Amen...we'll keep striving to remember the real reason for the season and trying to help those less fortunate. Your spirit is absolutely incredible.Your decorations and pictures of precious Harper are great!Blessings today and always,KayeMatthew 21:22

Hey Kelly,I have never commented before (unless a giveaway- I'm such a dork) but I did want to share a book with you about sleep and napping if you happen to be interested- if not, please ignore. It's called Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child; Weissbluth is the author. It's been a lifesaver for myself and my two little ones. Being a SAHM- it's important (and so NEEDED) to have some down, quiet time during the day. So, you might want to check out that title!Merry Christmas!~kara from Kansas

You know, my youngest had what I thought was the worst of her colicky behavior when she was FIVE and SIX months and supposedly babies are over it then! Then she'd get really fussy here and there when she was about 11-14 months - though most of the time she was dreamy good baby. Just bad days here and there, I guess. :) The sneak peek of your decorations are TDF - LOVE them! I cannot wait for the Tour w/the Nester. I am new to blogging and everything so I am very excited to see everyone's homes!We got our little one the Fisher Price Bouncy Zebra when she was around 1 and she LOVED it! Maybe Harper would like that? She's SUCH a little dolly!

Almost everything you write is so similar to things in my life. I know I've e-mailed you before about not getting married until I was 30, not having a baby until 35, etc. And we are not exchanging gifts in our family this year either...except for the babies in the family (we only have little ones so far...21 months and under).

Just wanted to let you know that my husband and I have decided to sponser a child through Compassion. I so agree with the just buying to buy. I have been touched by your experience with Compassion and feel like this is something we can easily do that will mean so much more than the usual Christmas gifts we give each other.

Our little blessing seemed to get the most mileage out of Discovery Toys. I don't sell them, but she loved them! There is the ladybug light-up pusher (alternative to the fun, but noisy cornpopper), and she loved the jack-in-the-box, and a foam block with different animals in it.

And eventually, maybe next year, you have to buy her a Little Tykes 'roller coaster'. It is now in Grandma's basement, and every single child from ages 2 - 8 plays on it!

You will get to work with my sis in law.....she just took the Communication job with the Childrens Home!!!!!!

My friend started this thing with their kids where each kid only gets 3 gifts....they teach them about Jesus and how the wise men brought 3 gifts. I think its a great idea and helps Christmas not just be about the presents you get!

I think it is awesome what your family is doing! I think ours it to that same point, we all do not need a thing! I have a little boy who is 2 and I know he doesn't need anything, but we still bought a few things for him to open. Have you invested in puzzles and books for Harper? I know my son LOVES them.

Love the decorations! In tying to teach Rome (who is 4) about the true meaning of Chritmas, but allowing him to ask for and receive Santa gifts, we have always told him that he could ask for and receive 3 gifts b/c of the 3 wise men delivering gifts to Baby Jesus. He has really caught on and when someone asks him what he wants from Santa, he is quick to tell them his 3 requests and explains why he only has 3 things on his list.

The 3 gift suggestions for Harper:1: Fisher Price Nativity Set - the angel lights up and it plays Away in a Mager.

2: Fisher Price Little Coupe Car, the one that you have to Fred Flinstone it for it to go.

I swear we are sisters (twins) seperated at birth. My tree is chocolate and gold much like the one in your photo. I love your Christmas spirit and the thoughts of giving to others instead of buying "stuff". I think we have all gone overboard with the whole gift-giving ordeal. I can't believe your little baby is almost a year old. Good luck at Hobby Lobby as it was very picked over this last week in our town.

What a wonderful idea! I love the thought of not having to spend the entire season in a mall. As far as a gift for Harper, my 16-month old LOVES his Pottery Barn chair. He got it for his first birthday and climbs all over it. Not a day goes by that he isn't sitting in it watching T.V.- it seriously was the best gift! Merry Christmas!!

You have beautiful decorations. I must say I have Mom days too where things are horrible and I just don't think I can go on. And then I have a great day, it happens.As for gifts for Harper, because her birthday is so close to Christmas buy a few things she can play with now and buy a few things she can play with this summer and put those back until then (let her open them just put them away so they are new later) This works great with my kids, they think they are getting new stuff in the middle of the year. So buy for an 18 - 24 month. Good luck!

What a beautiful post! Our families are also not buying gifts for each other, but are focusing on others and their needs. It is so heart warming to read of others who are doing the same! May God continue to bless you, Scott and Harper during this Christmas season.

I think that is a wonderful idea, the no gift thing, especially when you think of the people you will be helping that are truly in need!!! :) This year we just drew names in the family and it's really helped with the stress of the whole gift buying!

Fisher price has some great toys out right now! Thats what we are getting for EJ. Have you seen the little things they ride and bounce on? i need to share the link so you know what im talking about lol!anyways we are not doing gifts this year either and I love it!

You have such a sweet heart Kelly. :) My little girl is just a few months older than Harper and we got her a Fisher Price Laugh and Learn House for her first birthday because I had done all kinds of research and the kiddos seemed to adore this! Well, it was definitely a BIG hit in our house as well! There are so many activities, songs, buttons etc. etc. for them to do! I'm am sure she'll be playing with it for a long time but we have definitely already gotten our money's worth! You must at least check it out!

Oh, and just wanted to mention that the pic. of Harper is one of my favs!

I second the book that another person commented about...it is the best and my girls are 2 1/2 and still take a 2-3 hour nap pretty much everyday...that book has been wonderful.

On gifts:-a little rocking chair-white, they have a cute one at Menard's-the Pottery Barn Kids chairs-the girls have these...love them.-kitchen set...maybe a little young, but my girls now love their-table and chair set...another great hit in this house-books...for the holidays. The Story of Christmas is a really nice board book.

Okay, that is all I can think of.thanks for sharing your trees...they look wonderful!

I love your family's decision about Christmas gifts. Maybe I could convince my family to do the same next year!These are the gifts we are planning to get our baby girl this year: baby doll, push toy, wooden puzzles, Fisher Price farm animals, crawling tunnel.

I'm a teacher so I am huge fan of books as presents. Also, try the Playskool Busy Ball Popper. I bought one as a gift for a friend's little girl. She was turning one and my friend said she absolutely loved it! I've read many reviews online from parents who say their children squeal with delight when they play with it. Sarah

Thanks for helping me put my crazy day in perspective! Something we have done with our kids since they were born is to buy them each three gifts - something they need, something they want and something we want them to have. It is a fun way to shop and has helped us keep our focus on the One True Gift. Enjoy Harper's first Christmas! (I did not think of the gift idea, but since we have done it 16 years (!) I honestly can't remember who to credit!)

You might want to consider the Playskool Busy Ball Popper. We got our JennaBeth one of those for Christmas. I've heard great things about it and it is one of the top ten toys in Baby Talk magazine.We are keeping gifts for JennaBeth to minimum as well. We are getting three gifts a piece for our three sweet ones and just going to enjoy our time together. My husband is associate pastor and he's taking some time off!!

Wal-Mart has a wonderful Fisher-Price Little People Nativity set on sale this week if you can still find one. It's a little pricey at $39.99, but it is SO cute, and it is something Harper could play with now and in the future. It is surprisingly detailed, with a star that lights up above the manger, and it plays the song, "Away in a Manger," too. You could start a tradition of reading from the Bible about Jesus' birth and encourage Harper to act it out with the cast of characters in the Nativity whether you use a Fisher-Price nativity or some other. The Fisher-Price Little People Nativity is ADORABLE though, and I was really surprised to see that a big name toy company had produced a Christian-themed toy. Kudos to Fisher-Price and to Wal-Mart for carrying it! NOTE: Wal-Mart is supposed to be the only source for the Little People Nativity.

DISCLAIMER: This is an uncompensated product endorsement. I do not work for Fisher-Price or Wal-Mart. I am just a person who was happy to be able to buy a Fisher-Price Little People Nativity Set! =)

First, I need to thank you for your idea on making those monogrammed ornaments--I hit up Hobby Lobby and have made a bunch and I LOVE them!

As for the nap issue with Miss Harper, that is SO HARD. I dealt with this with my son and eventually learned that it was his food allergies. He's allergic to egg and SO MANY things have egg in them that I never even realized. I know Harper's allergic to egg too, so maybe it's something she's eating or maybe she has a new allergy you are not aware of. Food allergies go undiagnosed ALL THE TIME and most pediatricians really don't know too much about them, mine included as much as I love him. Feel free to contact me (ekj5577@yahoo.com)--it's hard having a child with food allergies and especially with one that doesn't nap! I had wished someone would have told me all this information I know now--my child would have actually napped instead of screaming through his nap time!

Kelly, you are such a sweet person! I think that is a GREAT idea for a family's Christmas. I think I'll suggest it to my own!

I remember reading a post of yours that that was talking about how thankful you are to be a mommy, and that even in the frustrating times you are still thankful for that baby girl! That has literally come to mind for me on many days in my own walk as a mother. Just the other day, London was SOO fussy and NOTHING would make her happy. I was getting SO tired and then I remembered what you had said. I said a little prayer in my heart along the lines of "Thank you, Jesus, that I even have this sweet little girl to be frustrated at!" and asked for strength to get all of us through the day. So thank you for that! I had never thought of it quite that way.

I love your family's idea for Christmas gifts!Our kids get 3 gifts from us because that is what the baby Jesus got from the Three Wisemen. Also, as far as gifts for Harper, check out the Fisher Price Laugh and Learn line. There are so many super cute stuff that is just right for her age!

Kelly, I just noticed that you were going to Hobby Lobby today :) (Im in WA state and have never heard of it before, but I came across this coupon on one of the blogs I read) Hopefully you arent there already and are still able to use this!

your families had a great idea to donate money, I think I'm going to suggest that for next year with our family

I would get a busy ball popper, its hilarious for all ages

I would also look for a fisher price dollhouse (little people) My girls love to open and close the doors and move the people and furniture around. those little people are durable enough to withstand being chewed on too!

I love new children's books, Melissa & Doug toys, and rhythm instruments. Does Harper have some sort of push toy?

We are doing the same thing around here...giving to others instead of buying presents for each other. I was SO excited to learn about the CSP through Compasssion! It makes me happy knowing that our money is supporting early intervention for moms and their babies. I also had fun shopping for the Wish Upon a Star toy drive for kids in foster care!

I feel that way too - I just need one good, productive day to feel a little less overwhelmed. I'm hoping that day will be tomorrow when I can get my plane ticket to visit with my family at Christmas, cross the rest of my gifts off the list, and then sit back and start letting some Christmas Cheer into my life!

It feels good to put that out there and also to know that others feel the same way. I love what you're doing for Christmas - I make donations to my favorite charities in my parents and grandparents name now for holidays and birthdays, and I know that they enjoy that just as much as the usual "bought to buy" gift, like you said.

Never commented before, but love reading your blog! Our little girl will be 14 months at Christmas. For her one year bday, she got the Pottery Barn Kids chair with her name on it. I think it will get lots of mileage for years to come! She also loves any kind of push toy (that can be converted to a car for later?) since she was mastering walking at the time.

My Christmas suggestion to you is one I gave the other day and she hadn't heard of it. . .our children each get three gifts b/c Baby Jesus was the recipient of three gifts. The season is all about God giving HIS greatest gift to us and we try to focus on that. . .giving to one another is in the same spirit. I love, love, love your idea of pooling the money you "would have spent" and giving it away! When our children are older I hope we can do that too with them. Here's something else that a FB friend is doing this year: her parents gave each family a monetary gift this year and they are to use the money, as a family, to do something in Jesus' name. Instead of opening gifts on Christmas Eve, they will tell one another what they did. That's kind of a neat idea too!As for gifts for Harper, start a tradition. . .a collection, ornament, something that will grow with her! Merry, merry Christmas to you and your family!!!

We are switching the way that we do gifts in our home this year. My girls will each be getting 3 gifts like baby Jesus and Santa is bringing the family a gift. Everytime it comes up it gives us a chance to talk to the girls about baby Jesus instead of just the wish list they made!

Christmas decoration are beautiful!!Your bible study sounds like an amazing blessing, especially if it can hit home the way it seems to be! I hope one day, once we've been married longer and are more stable we can give more! Your compassion stories are my favorites.

AMEN to the no present thing! I am with you, I feel like we just "buy to buy" and it makes it so stressful on everyone to get the right gifts...that tend to be the same each year anyway! LOVE the idea of sponsoring a child or using the money for the good of someone else! Fantastic Idea!!! Maybe we will get to that point sometime too!

You simply MUST invest in the Fisher Price, Little People Nativity for Harper. She is the perfect age to start the collection! I am a Children's Pastor and love to tell parents about this wonderful tool to help children learn about the true meaning of Christmas.

Just FYI, Fisher Price is known to "update" the collection from year to year, so if you want the entire set it might be helpful to buy it all at once, just in case they change it before next year.

Love the decorations! We too are in the thick of baby proofing! i have a drawer with all our paper products and our Helen Loves to pull out everything! I love your decision with the gifts. I just posted about this today... about Samaritan's Purse's gift catalog where you can "sponsor" so many things!

my only suggestion is to start the tradition my husband and i did last year when our girl was 9 months and was celebrating her 1st Christmas...we had a shopping date for her. my parents babysat her while we went to target, grabbed hot cocoas from starbucks, and shopped with no distractions. it was so fun to do that together, and making it a date felt so special. i have thought about that sweet evening many times this past year and i can't wait to do it again in just a week or so!

she is absolutely adorable and I lover her monkey Pjs. I can't believe that she will be one in a few weeks either. I started reading your blog the day she was born and it just doesn't seem like it has been that long. For Lauren's first Christmas I found her a Cabbage Patch Doll that had the same birthday as her. I also got her a learning table and a few other odd things.

I love what your family is doing this Christmas. Blessing others! that is what it should all be about.

What a wonderful post today. Your giving spirit is so inspirational! Plus, to have both sides of your family to think that same way is just phenomenal!

I can NOT believe 1 year is coming up so quick! My Colten is just a week and a half behind your Harper and I really don't like being reminded just how little time we have until that 1 year birthday! LOL. Our babies aren't babies anymore!

The ornament tradition is a great one to start! Something you probably don't want to think about yet...but when Harper is all grown up and starts life on her own, she will then have a nice collection of ornaments w/special memories to put on her own Christmas tree. :)

Something else we did with our kids was to have them put half of any cash gifts they received for Christmas, birthdays, etc into the bank. This way it accrued interest and got them in the habit of saving. It became exciting to them as their bank accounts grew. You could inspire charitable giving by putting a portion of any cash gifts toward charities that Harper could pick out when she is old enough to do so too.

I love the idea your families had for Christmas! It is so important to give to those less fortunate. I am a teacher and I see children everyday who have nothing... clothes, food, a safe place to call home. It is after all Christ's birthday and that is what He would want us to do, help his children who are in need!

Yours is one of my favorite blogs to read. I can relate to so many of your experiences and thoughts. My own little lady is 15 months, and I called my husband in tears yesterday begging him to come home early because we had one of those days!

We are working at simplifying Christmas in our home this year, and I was inspired by an idea that I saw on a couple of blogs. Each child gets something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read. Cute, right?

On another note, do you have an email posted somewhere on your blog? I was looking and couldn't find one. Just wondering.

Get her a Weeble Wobble playset. We got one for my 2yo when he was a baby and he still plays with it on an almost-daily basis. (Except when he throws all the Weebles down the stairs and has none left to play with but that doesn't count, right?)

Kelly I can't believe how big Miss Harper is getting, she is so adorable! I hear ya on when you said "buying just to buy". This year our families have decided that we are just buying gifts for the kids and that has lifted a huge weight off my shoulders.

My daughter was 11 months last Christmas and we got her a HUGE stuffed animal dog and a small toy piano and she loved them. She loves to lay on the doggie and snuggle with him when she watches cartoons in the morning.

Your Christmas decorations are beautiful!! One of my friends and her husband give their daughter three gifts each year just like Jesus received three gifts. I think it is a great idea! She still gets a few things from Santa, but the gifts from Mom and Dad are always limited to three. I know this isn't a gift suggestion, but I thought you might like the idea. Merry Christmas and enjoy looking at lights and watching movies. I love the holidays!

Kelly your Christmas Decorations are so sweet!! I can't believe your little girl will be 1 in 6 weeks! It's just crazy how fast the days go by we are 2 weeks and 2 days away from having our 3rd and I can't believe our oldest will be 5 at the end of this month! 5 years goodnes!! I wanted to write and share an idea we do with our family, This will be i thnk the 4th year in a row we have done this, but We do 1 gift from Santa and then 3 gifts from Mommy and daddy, being that Jesus recieved 3 gifts in the Stable when he was born! Its fun and it each year we get to go over again its fun to teach the little ones the importance of Christmas, We didn't want to take the excitment away from them about Santa but tried to put it perspective! Just wanted to share!BlessingsStacey

ps thanks for writing about your crazy day it makes the rest of feel like we aren't the only ones!!

Kelly your Christmas Decorations are so sweet!! I can't believe your little girl will be 1 in 6 weeks! It's just crazy how fast the days go by we are 2 weeks and 2 days away from having our 3rd and I can't believe our oldest will be 5 at the end of this month! 5 years goodnes!! I wanted to write and share an idea we do with our family, This will be i thnk the 4th year in a row we have done this, but We do 1 gift from Santa and then 3 gifts from Mommy and daddy, being that Jesus recieved 3 gifts in the Stable when he was born! Its fun and it each year we get to go over again its fun to teach the little ones the importance of Christmas, We didn't want to take the excitment away from them about Santa but tried to put it perspective! Just wanted to share!BlessingsStacey

ps thanks for writing about your crazy day it makes the rest of feel like we aren't the only ones!!

I love Harpers jammies... of course that could be because we have them too! LOL! The decor looks great! One thought for Christmas gifts.. or I guess before Christmas is that we always buy an ornament that goes along with what we did this year. I have had these since I was born and my girls are getting them too! It makes a great Christmas tree!!

i love the idea of not exchanging gifts and instead sponsoring a child. we have decided to do the three gifts to represent the 3 wisemen. our daughter will be two in a couple of weeks, so she'll get things for her bday. we're also giving her one gift from santa and some small things in her stocking. as she gets older if she feels deprived, she won't for long once she goes to the grandparents house. an idea for harper would be the pottery barn kids everyday chair. ella got one last year for her 1st bday and it has been worth every penny. she sits in it all the time.

We do 3 gifts for our sons birthdays and Christmas to represent the 3 wise men. I recommend the step 2 buggy--our older son (who will be 3 soon) still loves the buggy that was given to him when he celebrated his first Christmas at 8 months.

Two toys I say would definetly be good are the Mega Bloks (they even come in girly colors) and Noah's Leap Frog learning table. it plays music,ABC's 123's and teaches colors andshapes. He's had it for almost a year and its stil a favorite!

Your honesty is so refreshing. Being a mom (esp. to a little one) is hard sometimes. I think one of the hardest adjustments is letting go of the selfish part of the heart that still wants to do "whatever--whenever you want". Does that make sense? I promise someday it will get easier.... although my 18 mo was a little clingy today. It will start to get a little easier around 16 months; you will see a huge difference. I just love my baby girl so much, it's worth all the stinky days. :o) I truly believe that perfectionists have a harder time letting go. I still want to know how you keep your house so clean......

Just wait til Lil' Harper gets her hands on those trees...good luck! At this age we only decorate from the middle up!As for gifts, my kids loved the fridge farm and alphabet and magnetic sets from Leap Frog - fun and educational!Merry Christmas to you!

I am just exhausted and didn't even feel like getting on the computer but decided to sit a minute and look at a few blogs. And after reading this, I know why. I have had a tough mom WEEK this week....Connor has had the FLU and has been just sick and pitiful. And Avery Kate has been teething like crazy and pretty fussy. I catch myself in a vicious cycle....either I am having the pity party you talked about, or I am having a guilt party because I just had the pity party. UGH. But I know God knows my heart and He knows yours. I am getting a compassion child for Christmas and I am so excited about it. I love remembering the peace and joy of the season....it is there if you look for it.P.S. I could just cry thinking that Harper is already almost ONE. This year has been amazing!P.S. Sorry for the long comment!! :)

We too are trying to simplify Christmas this year - at least that was the plan. Admittedly I am doing a little more than I had planned but it is easy to get wrapped up in the gift giving. But I am also starting some new traditions with our girls to celebrate the real reason for Christmas.

Some gift ideas - I think every little girl needs a baby doll. My sister and I got a doll every Christmas growing up and are each continuing that tradition with our daughters. Also, Fisher Price makes a really cute walker/baby doll stroller. Pajamas are a pretty traditional gift for our family as well as a book. And of course there is always a tooth brush in the stocking. Don't ask me why, there just is!!

You are so precious and a wonderful mom. You shine so beautifully for the Lord. For Rachel's first Christmas we bought her a little kitchen. At the time, she was the first grandchild on both sides. I knew it would be a wonderful first Christmas for her but a little overwhelming for her too so we gave her the kitchen 2 weeks before Christmas. It was so fun and stress free too! It I'd hard to believe that she is now 16. She has already received her gift this year...God miraculously has taken amazing care of her both during her brain surgery last week and now in her recovery. We are overjoyed with how He has done what only He could do!!!

Thank you for this post! I so needed to read this! I had our 4th son 4 weeks ago and am home on maternity leave without pay. We are solely surviving on my husbands income - which is manageable - but we have to cut back in the meantime. I have been stressing over how we are going to buy Christmas for everyone and have lost track of what Christmas is all about. I feel like a weight was lifted off me while I was reading this post. What relief! I am going to remind my family of the reason for this season and how truely blessed we all are :) Again, thank you!

Love Kate's idea of "something they want, something they need, something to wear and something to read"! I'm adding that one to my Mom to be notebook! ha! We also like the 3 gifts to remind us of the 3 Wise Men idea! Great way to teach the reason for the season from an early age and also help keep on budget!

My family decided several years ago for the adults not to exchange anymore for the same reasons. There are just too many who need more than we do.

These pictures of Harper are so adorable. I can't believe she is going to be one in 6 weeks. That is unbelievable. I always had a cabinet full of tubberware and utensils that my kids could play with while I was in the kitchen. And they learned very quick that that was the only one that they could. Sometimes they would empty it completely and get inside. Too fun:)

Great ideas! I'm going to suggest my fam do that next year (this year people have already purchased gifts and would be offended if I 'called it off', and we've had enough of people offending each other lately! :( LOVE the pics of Harper in her PJ's--esp. the one with her tongue out and drool coming down.

Both my niece and my "niece of the heart" loved the "Surprise Inside Elephant":

Kelly, For our first daughter's first Christmas we decided to give her 3 gifts from us just like Jesus got 3 gifts from the Kings. A friend shared that tradition with us and it has stuck. It helps simplify Christmas and keep Jesus at the center. We also have Santa bring one larger unwrapped present. This minimizes all gift buying! I didn't read all of the comments, so this may not be a new idea to you! But it really works for us and our friends.

FOR HARPER...what about giving her 3 gifts, like the wisemen gave Jesus, we've done this before for our kiddos and they received Christmas pajamas (christmas eve), a toy, and a book, plus a few stocking items:) Have fun!

I help our family keep things in perspective each year...."Santa" only brings three gifts to our little girl. This idea is to parallel the three gifts that Jesus received from the Wise Men on that first Christmas. Our daughter is now 8, and will gladly and PROUDLY tell anyone who ask that about her three gifts and why she gets them. Just an idea to share...

Hi Kelly! I admire your family for giving back. What great Christmas spirit. An idea we heard about a few years ago relating to children's presents is to give 3 gifts(along the lines of the gifts brought to Jesus) We do this in our family and it works great. Merry Christmas :)

i love your blog! i love the fridge phonics (i am a first grade teacher as well as a mom of three) by leap frog. also, my aunt got us a christmas memory book that you fill out each year at christmas...every year you add to it (for up to 20 years i think...it has a spot for your holiday card, what you ate, who was there, etc.) so worth holding on to those memories!

O.K. I love how you and your family have chosen to give rather than recieve this holiday season!! So wonderful and selfless!! It's nice that people still know the True Meaning of Christmas and that is not just about gifts, it's about the birth of Jesus!!

When Kelcee was one we bought her the Fisher Price Learning Kitchen and she loved it.... It is not overly big and it teaches your ABC's it sings and teaches shapes.... it is a super cute gift and learning as well.... It's a baby kitchen ages 1 to 2 I do believe.... Our little girl loved it....Summer :0)

It looks like you are going to have a great Christmas season. Your decorations looks so nice. I won't be having any since we just moved into a new house about 3 weeks ago. I will just stop by all my favorite blogs and enjoy their decorations.

I love how your families are helping the children this year! How nice not to worry about finding the perfect gift! As for Harper, our son loves the Leap Frog learn and Groove table. We got it for him last Christmas when he was almost one, and this year he still enjoys it.

What a wonderful way to give at Christmas!Perfect one year gifts for my daughter at one was a kitchen to open and shut doors and to put food in, shopping cart to run over your Dawson and anything in her way haha, babies and stroller. Please do not get down on yourself for bad mom days...ITS NORMAL and I would think if you do not have one every once in awhile that would not be normal haha...you are a great momma and never forget that!

No specific gift ideas but I had to share a "gift concept" that my boss does with her girls. Each year they get three gifts - to represent the gold, frankincense and myrrh that the wise men brought Christ. The frankincense represents something fun for them (a small gift like a Barbie), the myrrh is something they need (clothes), and the gold is a bigger thing that they REALLY want and that usually involves the entire family (trip to Disney, this year it's tickets to a Taylor Swift concert). My boss knows that grandparents will get them other fun things so why go crazy and take the focus away from where it needs to be. Anyway, had to share - I can't wait to do it with our future children!

Hi Kelly,See if you can find a copy of "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. It is very helpful for addressing sleep issues. If you are desperate it might work for Harper. Just wanted to pass it along!Jennifer

Ok you must get a ball pit and or tunnel for Harper for Christmas from Santa. I got them for my girls at that age for Christmas because they immediatley go to it, play and love it. They have some tunnels that collapse and some that lead into little play tents. The ball pit is common we got one at toys r us and one at target. I just think for 20-30 dollars it makes a big impression when they walk in the room. I mean your house is a mini amusement park by this age anyway, you mine as well give in and have fun-

One day you will have to let Harper have a meet and greet with the babies she grows up with through blogging. We go to the computer and my youngest says, Harper. I check the blog and we talk about what she is doing. It used to be "b-a-b-y", but now she is "H-aaarper."

Love your trees!!As for gifts for Harper, I would suggest the Ball Popper ... think it's by Hasbro? We got my son (who will be a year old on Sunday!!) one a few months ago and he plays with it every day and loves it. For Christmas, we are getting him a ball pit - he used one at a friends house and loved it and so did the other babies there!

We have totally simplified this year too. And quite frankly it's high time. It seems to be getting more and more excessive and there is just no reason for the nonesense. Christmas isn't about how many gifts you get is it? For Harper, I say a few empty boxes and some Tupperware - that usually seems to keep a baby happy. ;-) Merry Christmas to your family!

oh i just love your idea of "giving" that is so neat that you all are doing that! I really wish that we were. It is so neat that you made this post today because I was just thinking... TODAY- that I wish that I would have just asked for money for christmas and used that to sponsor as many compassion children as I could. Its a little late this year but I will have to keep it in mind for next year. Thanks for sharing and remember we all have those days that it is just a little harder to get by... many blessings!

A year already?!? Time goes by so quickly! Great post by the way, love what you all are doing this Christmas. We get angels every year, but this year I wanted to do something more...not sure what yet! A ride in car for Christmas??? A tent? My Miss Priss still enjoys them both 8 mos after her 1st bday!

I don't know if it has been suggested (I didn't read ALL the comments, sorry ;)), but it looks like little Miss Harper needs a play kitchen! We are getting our two one from Wal-Mart on sale for 79.00 and it comes with play food. You might not think she is old enough for it now, but she will be in 2 months! Great idea about the gifts, I wish my MIL would consider something like that, but she insists on doing something!! errr...Merry Christmas!! :)

I think its so admiring that you and your family are giving to those less fortunate for Christmas instead of buying each other the same presents every year! I love that idea, and think more people should do that. Everything gets so hyped up for Christmas and people are always scrambling to find a perfect gift. That's not what the season is about. I love the picture of Scott and Harper! It's like she's saying "Oh Dad..." Like she's annoyed but kind of not lol. Can't believe I've been reading your blog for almost a year! I dont have any kids, so I don't know what a good present for Harper would be. Good luck finding one! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

I think it's a great idea to keep gifts to a minimum...as Nester recently had on her blog, "Jesus is the gift". We gave Raegen a Radio Flyer Walker Wagon for his first Christmas (he was 10 mo.; go here to see it at amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Flyer-Classic-Walker-Wagon/dp/B00005AWB5/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1259832545&sr=8-1). He loved it and eventually learned to walk at 14 months{http://thestainfam.blogspot.com/2008/04/were-walking-againagain.html}! :) Now he uses the wagon to push all his toys around...and he can usually sweet talk someone into pushing him around!

It is beginning to look alot like Christmas. I would suggest for Harper the Fisher Price shopping cart or the Leap Frog shopping cart. All of my children, grandchildren and kids I babysat for used it at about Harper's age as a "walking" aid and then it become a creative toy for play as they get a little older. With just 6 weeks till her birthday you will need birthday ideas as well! Think about things she will be going into since her next gift event won't be again until this time next year. Of course you have already probably thought about that!

Harper is the perfect age for little ride-on toys. Fisher Price (I think) makes a real cute giraffe one that I got my niece last year.Or one that doubles as a "walk behind" and ride-on toy would be great!

Love to read your blog Kelly....I was thinking about encouraging my family to do something similar...I have 7 sisters...just think about the families/kiddos we could bless. I am singing Silent Night and Away in a Manager each night to my little guy too...and always sing Mary Did You Know in my head as I don't think I can sing that song with out crying...actually I know I can't think that song with out crying...It's amazing to think about Mary...such a young mother...I often wonder about her...giving birth in a barn and kissing sweet baby Jesus....what a wonder...how her heart held it all I will never know...I can hardly contain the Love I have for my lil guy. Thanks for sharing your life Kelly...God Bless and Merry Christmas to you and yours.

As much fun as Christmas for a almost-one-year-old sounds, believe me, she'll play with the boxes. Some ideas; books for you to read with her, blocks or legos, a ball, maybe some baby-praise videos or something of that nature. Only other thing I could think of would be a wagon/pushcart type thinging to help her walk as her mobility increases. She won't know the difference between the present and the wrapping and my kids weren't even really sure what to do with wrapped gifts at first. My son was more interested in his big sister's toys anyway because she was so excited about them. By the time she's two, Harper will have more clear preferences and then it'll be easy to know what to get her for Christmas. My turning-3-year-old loves playing in the kitchen, so last Christmas we gave her a mini microwave and shopping cart. This was a huge hit!

OMG!!! You ARE human! It is totally fine to have a bad mom day and feel frustrated and exhausted and even ask for a little help...such as "Lord please give me just a little help here!". That doesn't make you any less grateful for what you have or any less compasionate towards others. You are SO giving and loving, it is something I admire greatly in you. You do have to give yourself a break though because you are human and with alot of people it seems that you are your worst critic. I hope I am not speaking out of turn here as I don't know you personally but I think so much of you and feel better that you have bad mom days too.

A big HUGE empty box wrapped in pretty paper with a big bow and next to that a HUGE bag full of paper and maybe a few kitchen utensils! Kids love to play in boxes and with kitchen utensils!Merry Christmas dear sister!

I love your decorations and of course, I always love seeing Harper. Harper and my little one are not that far apart. T turns one on December 23rd.

I have no idea what to ger her myself, but I've asked for DIAPERS. I know that learning toys are good for 1 year olds. They like anything that makes noise. And of course toys that will help strengthen her brain are good.

I donated to Toys For Tots in memory of my son, Cylas. His 2nd Birthday is December 24th and I am always trying to do the right thing in his memory. I also hope to expand that has his age gets "bigger".

I wonder if I could talk my family into doing that? And don't be surprised if Harper isn't interested in the presents. Mine wasn't at that age. On baby proofing - Don't forget the door knob covers! They work great for the bathroom . . . and the backdoor. I'm not kidding!

Hey Kelly- I was looking for your giveaway posts and they seem to be gone! I thought you said they were open until Friday, but I may have misread that. I had a few extra minutes, so I thought I would comment. :o) I love reading your blog and have really loved watching Harper grow. She is a few monthes younger than our youngest, who turned 1 in Sept. Many blessings on a wonderful Advent season and a Merry Christmas. Blessings-Laura from FL

We always give our children three gifts (because the 3 wise men came bearing three gifts)...an outfit, a toy, and a book. Then "Santa" brings them an ornament and either an apple or orange in their stocking.

Iam glad to hear that I am not the only one trying to cut down on the "present" aspect of the season! :) It's so peaceful knowing there are mommies out there with the same values as me! :) And does Baby Harper have the fisherprice ball popper? All three of my kiddos LOVED that at her age! Hey... you asked for suggestions! ;) Blessings**

ok, so this is a random question. i LOVE blogging but have kinda stepped back because I am worried about privacy issues/pictures of my kids, etc...How do you get over the "worry" factor when posting pics of Harper?

Love reading your blog. Harper is such a cutie. I have 3 grandchildren- oldest is 3 and she has siblings that are twins, who are 21 months old. The best thing I've ever bought them is the Fisher Price Learning Home. They have, and still are getting my money's worth out of it.

My twins are a few weeks younger than Harper and I have experienced the same crankiness with them the last few days! They are getting their first two molars, so you may want to check her mouth to see if that is bothering her. It starts when we get home from daycare and doesn't end until they go to bed! Definitely trying on you! By the way, my little Oliver reminds me so much of Harper! I love reading your blog!

Oh my gosh - I have a 10 month old who has been super fussy, waking up in the middle of the night, and just in general being a crank-pot (our friendly term for her when she's crabby). She is teething so we try to be patient but it seems like she's fussier now than when she was a tiny baby!

Kelly...I think my daughter, Rylie, and Harper look a lot a like. :) You can see pictures of Rylie on my blog...I'm anxious to hear if you agree. :) Anyway...you asked for some Christmas present suggestions for Harper. Rylie is almost 14 months and her "big" gift is going to be one of those plastic slides (3 stairs or so). She can play with it inside or out and I think that she will just love it! :)

Thank you for putting it all into perspective. My church (Pinnacle) had a Christmas concert last night that was all worship songs singing about God's glory! We get all caught up talking about all the animals and the feed trough and forget what an amazing and miraculous gift was given that night. God on earth! Can you imagine?

Ok, I could go on and on. :) And for Harper, a doll house would be a great idea! My daughter got one for her first Christmas and still plays with it 3 years later...every day. If you get one that you can move from room to room easily it's even better. I can guarantee hours of entertainment!